Hump with the coop today....

Now, i'm normally an optimistic, happy person, but today driving to work I got abit pi**ed off towards the car. Iv spent slightly over £6k on it in since Jan 08, and i'm still not happy with it. Iv still got a wheel bearing type noise, despite having them all changed, its getting worse too. Ever since having a new alternator fitted I can hear belt whine of some sort (garage say its nothing to worry about), and my pretty much brand new Supersprint exhaust ticks loudly, whilst driving, pretty much from as soon as I pull away. ( mentioned that afew times on here ). Am I being unreasonable to expect the car to be sorted 100% by now. The frustrating thing is that i'm now gona have to pay to get the wheel bearing problem diagnosed again, parts fitted again, labour again. Already had new aux belts last year, gona have to pay for them again now too if I want the noise to go away. As for the Supersprint, I know various people have said its normal, but iv been in/listened too, various performance cars over the years, and while some of the exhaust make a slight ticking noise on cool down, iv NEVER heard one that ticks while driving, and from when the exhaust simply cannot have even warmed up yet. The thought of taking it too the garage and having to explain these issues, just winds me up even more. I shouldn't have too, these should all be sorted with what iv spent, and I really cant be arsed to argue with them and 'burn my bridges' so to speak, as you can guarantee once I have, i'll really need to them for something serious. And in fairness they have helped me out whenever poss.

Just having a bad day I guess, best course of action is to book it in for an oil change, and point these things out, and judging by their helpfulness in the past, they will prob do all they can to help me, but it will still cost though.......

.......rant over, I think.......

Rich, what tyre's are you running?

i had a wheel bearing noise and changed all 4 and it didnt cure it... drove me round the bend and back again

i changed the fronts and this noise reduced ALOT so i changed the rears and it went!

that could be the worth a shot!

as for the ticking de-cat,,,,im happy to swap it with mine!

Tyre noise can sound very much like wheel bearings. Learnt this one many moons ago when I had a van with goodyears on.
The tyre went out of shape and made a 100% bad wheel bearing noise. Check all conections with exhaust inc the 3/4 bolts that hold the heat sheild on.

Cheers guys, the tyres are Federals (I know) all 4 the same, and very little wear on them, so i'll have to wait to tyre change time I guess to see if they are to blame.... iv never known tyre's be this noisy though!

exhaust connections all look good to me, gona book in for an oil change and get them to look over it, confirm all's OK, that way I have some come back if I do have probs later on......hopefully!

Tempted to take it to Rog or Paul, get another specialist to look at things, just a long way for me.

maybe a nice someone nearby might let you swap over wheels and tyres to take it out for a drive to see if the bearing noise goes away.

hi rich.
i agree the exhaust should not tick while driving maybe its a blow. like i said before i am happy to have a listen or look for you.
as for the tyres again i can swap my wheels over with yours while you have a blast to see if its tyres?

Would a tyre only create a bearing type noise it it were defective..... surely no tyre, even cheap ones, could make this much noise ?

Bearing noise can easily be tyres. I've had ones in the past that have made an unbelievable din but have had no damage or excessive wear. Try swapping front wheels to the back or moving tyres from one side of the car to the other.

No they can just be noisey. You could swap with my wheels sometime if you need too.

If you want I can come out with you to listen to all your noises but I would take it to Rog for a second opinion. I'm off there on Tuesday - its not that far....

I would take it to Rog or Paul then you can you just enjoy driving it.

I'd expect it to be perfect, after spanking 6k on it.

It's good to be fusy, i don't think i will ever be 100% happy with mine, as there is always something that needs doing.

Cheers for the offers guys, gona swap the wheels around, and see if it makes a difference, if not i'll pull out a bit more hair, and take one of you guys up on the offer of helping out

Paul is what, 90 miles away? A quick blat up the M40 and you'd be there in an hour and a half!!! And Rog is even closer

I know what your saying, my problem is i'm used to traveling half a mile!

6K!!!I like my coop and will hold on to it whilst it still goes. Rather controversial but jeez what a waste of 6 large IMHO!!! Time for a newer motor methinks just pay it off monthly/or lease it?

^
Should've bought a 20v Turbo

and your entitled to it, but what would I get for 6k that looks as good, offers the performance, rarity, that wouldn't need money spending on it anyway?.......

Ignor Submariner

Bang on Rich. Keep the coupe - you will enjoy it soon enough I am sure.

Mine was at Motormech today, and I live near Leeds. Well worth the trip - they sorted a few little issues that I didn't think could be sorted. And they did it for pennies. Specialist = good idea.

Also, mine had a 'belty' noise for a while, which was the tensioner on the aircon belt. Bitch to fit, but it shut it up.

On the bearing noise - I had a 9-3 which had what I was 100% sure was rear bearing noise. It was dodgy tyres - Goodyears. Because Saab's have a trick rear suspension that turns the rear wheels in corners they can turn the inside edge of the tyre into a 50p sort of shape. Sounds just like bearings.

I changed the fronts on that car about a week later, because of the reduction in noise from the rear, and the car was transformed.

my dad had four cheap make tyres put on his vectra sri,and had the wheel bearings replaced,and it wasnt them after all was the tyres was really noisey,when he went to vauxhalls he said some of the cheaper ones have different tread patterns and compounds which made them so noisy and whine a lot,he changed them and the noise went away,it used to drive me mad,even worse sat in the back,hope this helps,id try swap wheels with someone just to see,

Don't muck about Rich, get over to Roger and let him sort it out.
It's really really worth it mate!

I drive a Scoob

The hour and a half takes into account his coupe breaking down at some point

Given the fact that my coop is currently off the road after breaking down...

Ok, back to the wheel bearing type noise i'm getting, assuming it may be the tyres, they are directional, I'm thinking of swapping the tyres round on the front, left to right, the tread direction will be wrong (will only do this for a quick test and in the dry), but i'm thinking this might change the noise, and help point the blame at noisy tyres, or not... what do we rekon?

Err, there are arrows on directional tyres, on the sidewalls, indicating direction of travel. No need to take any risks swapping them round.

I know, i'm just trying to diagnose if its tyre noise, and I thought changing the tread direction would change the noise i'm getting, if indeed it is the tyres......

Yes, it probably would change the noise. But do you really want to find out why they print those arrows? If you do find out its likely to be expensive, and possibly painful. Like Stan says, a pointless risk.

A swap front to back might be just as effective.

I had exactly the same issue on my 156, was absolutely convinced is was wheel bearings. When getting my front tyres changed the fitters noticed the nearly new rear goodyears where warn oddly. If you ran your flat hand round the tread there was a really obvious "50p-ness" which you couldn't see with your eye. Changed the tyres, noise went away. 10k or so miles later it happened again. Talking to Alfa specialists they said it was very common, particularly on GTV's with large wheels and stiff suspension. They recommended changing tyre brands, so I did and it never re-occurred. I think it happens most on the lightly loaded tyres (rears)

Well, after much online searching and review reading, I have found that nearly all reviews on the Federals I have say they are very noisy tyres, and that many other owners have thought their wheel bearing were shot when using these, that puts my mind at rest a bit, falken 452s for me next I think, had them on my plus, and they were very good IIRC, just gota wait for the Federals to wear a bit, as I cant justify scrapping 4 recent tyres...

I'm using federals and don't find them that noisy?

In fact, I find the 595's really good! They might be noisier than some 'premium' tyres but nothing out of the ordinary...and i don't listen to the radio much

old coop adage - turn the stereo up

well perhaps iv got a duff batch then, but i have to assume its the tyres for now after reading the reviews, i'll only know for sure once i change them.....

Let us know how you get on Rich

I'm getting Falken 452's fitted all round tomorrow, i'll post my findings on monday next week, fingers crossed or iv just wasted my cash.......

That'll be too soon Rich, unless you intend to drive several hundred miles this weekend? They feel "weird" for a couple of hundred miles, trust me, it's like a switch being flicked when they suddenly bed-in!

That could be to do with the sort of glaze they put on new tyres. I remember a biker being told not to push his new back tyre till he had run it in a bit. Its not as noticeable on a car becuase you have 4 wheels (usually) all touching the road but on a bike it can be dangerous.

I'm hoping for a drop in the 'bearing' type noise i'm getting at first, i'll wait and see

Well, got the Falkens 452's fitted last Thurs.... and..... the bearing noise has completely gone. I can't believe the difference a set of tyres can make, the car feels better in many difference ways, better over bumps and undulations in the road, a hell of lot quieter than the Federals, and they are not even 'scrubbed in' yet, so all round money well spent. Thanks for putting up with my moaning, I should change the above post to "Happy with the coop today"!!

good to hear it all sorted.

Always nice to hear a story with a happy ending!